What do you think of the new laws that give NSW
police unprecedented powers to combat terrorism, including warrants
to search properties without telling the occupant they have done
so? Please keep your comments brief.

This topic is now closed - this is what you said.

Can we swap the NSW police force for one that we can trust first?? One where they won't come into your house and then sell all your goods as they leave. I do not trust them as far as I could kick them.

MC

Lets just erode peoples civil liberties one by one, all in the name of terror.

Peter G

This is becoming stupid.Are we going to be able to buy matches in the future?? Aerosol cans?? This is just playing on people's paranoia, and passing laws that are ridiculous.

wake_up

Phillip is absolutly right, we have been a tad too relaxed about the police being over zealous about their proposed new powers. But given that the cops seem to be snowed under with the everyday matters already, what hope will they have of turning out to raid thousands of houses in the hope of finding a terror cell? They had to give up Operation Noah 'cos of the logistics of raiding hundreds for a couple of dope plants or hoaxes.

Chill Out Folks

Considering the absolute failure of all the well trained American, British and Australian Intelligence agencies in identifying those massive Iraqi WMDs, the public of Australia must now be aware as everybody gets investigated by the police for having a dangerous kettle.

52nd state, here we go

Talk about 1984! I'm honestly becoming more afraid of our government than I am of the terrorists. It's very easy to say that if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear. Even with nothing to hide, I don't want the police snooping through my stuff.

Where's this all going to end, anyway? Will there end up being a time where we're considered suspect and treated as such because we despise the Howard government, for example, and aren't shy about saying so?

Left of field

Its about time police were given more powers to do their jobs more effectively. All these hippies who think this will take away their 'freedom' should have nothing to hide (other than a few cannabis leaves) so Im sure you won't be a target. This power will give the police more time to investigate possible terrorists and possible terrorist threats. Why weren't these powers brought in straight after September 11???

Christophe Person

Come on guys it is ridiculous to say- "if you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear" Try living in some Asian countries where the local police chief knows everything about your family and your movements. It is not about hiding anything, we all have a fundamental right to privacy and to express our differences without being in fear. Believe it or not I am not a "leftie" or a terrorist sympathizer, not even a civil libertarian and I support law and order, I just do not want to see police have draconian powers that allow them or the Government to have control over our lives.

Phillip

Please, we need a Bill of Rights urgently

Tony D

My biggest concern are for those with the Muslim faith who will not be spared in these random searches just because of the nature of their names.

SMC

As long as you don't say to a friend over the phone (in jest) that you wish someone would just blow up parliament house and get rid of the meddling pollies...

oh bugger...

they're probably searching my house right now...

Scotty

Excellent move. Congratulations on the gvt for having a backbone.

Anne McGown

This should be a general police power, not just a terrorism related one. Would you do anything differently if you knew that you might be under police surveillance? No. You would not stop expressing your opinions, practising your religion, socialising with your friends, or having sex. Why should you? The police would only be interested in illegal activities. On the other hand, this would allow the police to solve many crimes and prevent many more.

Steve Adams

Why dont we just turn the state into a full blown police state with Bob Carr as the dictator.

Adam

If Bob wants to be PM he should run for federal office. Until then, he should concentrate on getting the bl**dy trains working!

Leave it alone Bob

No new 'Brave New World' from this state or federal government will upset me anymore. Who ever said that Australia is a democracy ? We're a bunch of moderate socialists at best !!!

Just another Taxfile Number

Where is the evidence to support such interventionist legislation? Why do we continue to follow or give credence to such neo-liberal fascist type paranoia?

Tom Kelsey

As I heard stated not that long ago there will always be a bad element of people in any organisation. If this is brought in what is to stop a law enforcer that has a vendetta against someone to search and harrass someone under the disguise they believe they are involved in terrorism. I believe there should be a warrant issued for this so there is hopefully an outside party. It is not a matter of having anything to hide it is a matter of possible abuse of power, which does happen

sue smith

People who have nothing to hide have been imprisoned since the year dot. All it needs is a law to say your previously lawful activity is now unlawful (un-Australian?), and voila, you are a criminal; the Guildford four and the Birmingham six has Irish accents. That was it. I have a British accent, which should be safe enough given Howard's new white Australia policy, but what about all the law abiding people living in my suburb with middle eastern accents and dress? Being law abiding has never been a great defence in a police state.

Terrorists are winning! I'm terrorised. Of our government! But I should be careful with what I write here. Any subversive premise may be considered 'suspect activity' and result in my house being searched and my phone tapped and emails scanned. I have nothing to hide but I do want to retain my freedom of thought without harrassment.

Bugged!

if you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear

Louis

Spot on Matthew Gretton !

Since terrorists hate freedom ( we are told ), by getting rid of our freedoms, then the terrorists should not longer hate us since we are no longer free. I agree - let's give up our freedom ! Let's substitute one form of terrorism for another form - hey, at least, it's local and not imported !

Land of the free

Legal Eagle, Scotty et al: this very week we've heard evidence of police stitching up the innocent to protect the guilty. They can't be trusted with untramelled power any more than the rest of us. Politicians even less so.

Liberty isn't just a buzzword, it has a meaning. And this aint it.

Use To Be A Free Country

Given the recent news about police being involved in child porn and other illegal activites, can we really trust the police with the new laws ?

We are heading for the real Big Brother in our homes.

aquarius

Scotty, I think you meant to say, if you're in total agreeance with the ruling power of the time, all the time, then you have nothing to worry about. Don't rock the boat now matey!

Mindless Submissive

Many of the police in NSW Ive encountered are rude, racist and acted in an anti-social manner and this is coming from a law abiding citizen who`s never copped as much as a parking fine.

These people are on a personal power trip and granting them more power is just fuelling them. I currently live overseas and made the decision not to come back as long as Howard is in power. I`d like to come back but the I just see Australia becoming more like America, introducing extreme measures to destroy personal freedoms which in essence, makes us less safe!

Hacinto

It is about time to be tough on terrorism. Convicted terrorists' must not be given any rights as they love to take innocent people life indiscriminately. A tougher law against these evils is needed before it happened.

Jimmy Smith

Truly I am shocked. So much for freedom. What's next, citizen uniforms and re-education centers? Who really trusts the police anyway?

Grifter

What is this? Soviet Russia?Are we soon going to need papers to travel out of our city of residence, or be arrested by the secret police?

This is a disgrace. Police searching homes without the occupant knowing? This kind of thing has nothing at all to do with the fight against terrorism, and everything to do with spying on the general population of the country. This kind of thing should NEVER be allowed to go ahead, and should be fought against tooth and nail.